Atzmona settlers leave

(VIDEO) After a quiet weekend in Gaza, settlement evacuation in the area continued on Sunday.

Security forces evacuated residents from the settlements of Atzmona, Katif, Slav, and the northern Gaza settlement of Elei Sinai.

Evacuation day in Katif (Video: Yaron Brenner)

Prior to the evacuation, at the entrance to Katif, residents prepared tires and wood ahead of time and torched them as forces arrived. Fire engines and IDF bulldozers were able to break through the fire and make way for troops.

Later, evacuation forces arrived in Atzmona, where residents waved orange ribbons through windows and yelled: "Nazi soldiers." However, IDF commander Agai Yechezkel was warmly received by Atzmona secretary Dudi Reish. The two spoke and later hugged.

"We agreed that we'll safeguard the army's humanity and the army will safeguard our humanity," Reish told Ynet. "we'll attempt to end this day in peace, not in terms of the soul, but at least in terms of the body."

Deal struck

Yechezkel and Reish struck an agreement that would see residents leave as a group and without violence. Families in Atzmona were instructed to pack their belongings and arrive at the synagogue, where buses will be departing from.

"We want to leave together so we know we haven't left anyone behind and so that we're in control," Reish said. The army said anyone who chooses to stay home will be removed by force.

However, despite the tension and urgency, some residents still tried to convey a sense of "business as usual." At the Ezra family home, soldiers found the family in the backyard, with children playing on the swings.

When asked what they planned to do until the time of evacuation, the father, Lior Ezra, said: "As you see – we're on the swing." However, the family said it does not intend to be dragged to the buses and will board them voluntarily.

Among the Katif residents evacuated was David Hatuel, who lost his wife and four daughters in a Gaza shooting attack. The family was on its way to protest in central Israel on the day of the Likud referendum on the pullout when the mother and daughters were murdered on the Kissufim road.

Katif residents held a special memorial ceremony at the Hatuel home following the morning's prayer session. Hatuel himself, who left earlier, was not present at the ceremony. At the entrance to the house, settlers placed five empty chairs bearing the names of the five murdered Hatuel family members.

Fire in Katif (Photo: Yael Golan)

'Nothing special is planned'

In Atzmona, evacuation forces were met by fire and smoke, after settlers burned tires. However, residents are not expected to offer stiff resistance.

Empty chairs at Hatuel home

Local resident Zvulun Kalfa told Ynet: "Nothing special is planned. Every family will conduct itself according to its character at its home. We hope the rules will be maintained. Surprises are always possible, but we hope clear heads will prevail."

Atzmona residents have already started planning for the day after, but without turning to the government for assistance. The settlers have not approached the Disengagement Authority, chose to arrange their own alternate living arrangements and are planning to set up a tent city.

"We organized everything on our own," Kalfa said. "This is not simple financially. It's important to us to maintain the spirit we have here (and ensure that) if we're expelled together, we'll remain together."

Bulldozers to raze houses

The last Gaza settlement to remain standing, Netzarim, will be evacuated Monday. Currently, there are about 60 families in the isolated community. Government officials and local settlers are currently trying to work out an agreement that would see all families depart quietly and move together to temporary housing in the Ariel College dorms in the West Bank.

At this time, the IDF and police are already looking ahead to the evacuation of the northern West Bank, expected to get under way this week, with all eyes turned to the community of Sa-Nur, where stiff resistance is expected.

Residents and infiltrators have vowed to ensure the "expulsion stops here" and have said that "Kfar Darom would be child's play compared to Sa-Nur." Others have already described the stronghold as the "Stalingrad of the disengagement."

Reporting from the field:

Aya Ben-Amos, Atzmona

Efrat Weiss, Katif

Ronny Sofer, Katif